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The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is expanding and accelerating its contributions to scientific knowledge of human health and the environment, and to the health and well-being of people everywhere.

Welcome to the November edition of the PEPH Newsletter!

In this issue of the PEPH Newsletter we share resources and research just as diverse as our PEPH community. Our feature this month: a new review article on the ethics of community-based participatory research, a cornerstone of much of the research and activities in our PEPH community. For those educating our youth about environmental health we share ATSDR’s new website about making your school a mercury-safe zone; and PBS’ Environmental Public Health Collection for K-12 teachers. For our colleagues working with Indigenous communities we point you towards two factsheets about ethical research partnerships, and a research opportunity with the CDC Tribal Support Unit that may be a great fit for you or a PEPH colleague.

Do you have an event or announcement to share with the PEPH community? Send us your news for the next issue of the PEPH Newsletter (peph@niehs.nih.gov)!

Building a Foundation for Ethical Community-Engaged Research

A new publication provides community-based participatory research (CBPR) practitioners with a summary of the components, challenges, and strategies of ethical CBPR. Partially funded by the NIEHS, the review article provides a foundation for developing a working definition and conceptual model of ethical CBPR. This is the first comprehensive literature review on the topic. CBPR ethical principles are different from those in traditional health research because CBPR must protect the rights and well-being of both the individual and the community as a whole. Throughout the literature, the authors found that the principles that define ethical CBPR are synonymous with those that define CBPR itself, like close collaboration, trust, and joint ownership of data. This similarity between CBPR ethics and methods suggests that investigators need to engage in high-quality CBPR to ensure the ethics of their work. “CPBR has changed the ethical landscape of community health research and has made great strides in bringing research and community together, but we shouldn't assume that academic-community collaborations are upholding stringent ethical standards,” said study authors Lisa Mikesell, Ph.D. , Elizabeth Bromley, M.D., Ph.D. , and Dmitry Khodyakov, Ph.D. , who call attention to the need for measurable objectives or guidelines to ensure that CBPR is conducted to high standards.

The review was published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Public Health.

ATSDR Revamps the Don’t Mess with Mercury Website

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently added new content to the “Don't Mess with Mercury ” website. The website offers resources to help teachers and school professionals learn about mercury safety, how to clean up after a spill, and how to develop a mercury policy for their school. Students can test their “mercury IQ” by playing a game that quizzes them on mercury facts and safety, or explore an interactive human body that makes it easy to see the health effects of mercury on different parts of the body.

EPA/NIEHS Children's Centers Webinar on Pesticides

This month's EPA/NIEHS Children's Centers webinar features Elaine M. Faustman, Ph.D. , from the University of Washington, discussing her work on pesticides and children’s environmental health. The webinar will be held November 13, 2013 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET. Register online.

PEPH Podcast Series

This podcast series explores how environmental exposures affect our health. Each episode highlights ways researchers work with community groups to understand and address environmental health issues. Check out past podcast on the PEPH Environmental Health Chat Web page, or subscribe to the series on iTunes .

"Fast Facts" for Researchers Working with Tribal Communities

Two “Fast Facts” sheets developed by the Native Tradition, Environment And Community Health (TEACH) Project at the University of Washington Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health help researchers working with Indigenous communities move towards ethical and equitable research partnerships. The Responsible Research Partnerships and Indigenous Cultural Autonomy factsheet help researchers understand the Indigenous perspective and how to use this knowledge to inform the research process. Visit the website for other resources created through the Native TEACH project.

Environmental Public Health Collection on PBS LearningMedia

Environmental health literacy is gaining recognition in large part to the quality educational resources available on the web. Recently, the Environmental Public Health Collection developed by WGBH Teacher’s Domain (funded in part by NIEHS), was moved over to PBS LearningMedia. This media-based collection contains videos and supporting materials to help K-12 educators teach students about topics like mercury exposure, environmental justice, chemical hazards and more. Detailed lesson plans and professional development materials also help teachers incorporate environmental public health concepts in the classroom. Sign up for free to access this diverse collection of resources.

Research Opportunity in the CDC Tribal Support Unit

A research opportunity is available at the Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorials Support (OSTLTS) in the Tribal Support Unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tribal Support is the primary link between the CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and tribal governments. Activities focus on ensuring that American Indian/Alaska Native communities receive public health services that keep them safe and healthy. See the posting for more details.

Webinar Series on Classes of Chemicals in Consumer Products

The Green Science Policy Institute is hosting a weekly webinar series about six families of chemicals which contain many of the harmful substances found in everyday products. The upcoming, November 5, 2013, webinar features Arlene Blum, Ph.D. , discussing flame retardants. Other topics include plasticizers and endocrine disruptors, solvents, and heavy metals. The webinars will be held on Tuesdays from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. ET through December 10, 2013. Register online.

Upcoming PEPH-Related Meetings

November 2-6, 2013 "American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting " in Boston, Massachusetts. As always, there are many sessions focused on community engagement and environmental health. Learn more about CBPR or . If you are attending APHA and are presenting, please let us know. Register online.

February 13-15, 2014: "New Partners for Smart Growth Conference " in Denver, Colorado. The program will include sessions and case studies focusing on social equity and environmental justice issues. Early-Bird registration closes Sunday, November 24th. Register online.

Research on the Health Determinants and Consequences of Violence and its Prevention, Particularly Firearm Violence (R01, R03, R21). This FOA spans across the missions of several NIH Institutes and Centers. The National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities identifies priority topics that may be of particular interest to the PEPH community.Deadlines: February 5, 2014 (R01); February 16, 2014 (R03 and R21).